To keep your hearing aids working correctly for years to come, you’ll need to learn proper care and maintenance. And though it may feel like an additional burden, with the right plan your hearing aid care will become easy and automatic.
The secret is establishing effective habits.
If you incorporate your hearing aid care into your day-to-day and nightly routines, before long it won’t seem like any extra work at all.
The following are a few tips for the daily care of your hearing aids (which your hearing professional will also discuss with you):
Clean your hearing aids on a daily basis – Attempt to integrate your hearing aid cleansing into your evening routine, so it will become as automatic as brushing your teeth. This is essential because daily hearing aid cleansing can prevent the collection of earwax, dirt, and dust into the various parts of the hearing aid, which can lead to distorted sound with time.
You’ll want to clean your hearing aid with a soft, dry cloth, while avoiding any fluids that could destroy the hearing aid electronics. Talk with your hearing specialist for special guidance on cleaning each kind of hearing aid.
You may also consider investing in a hearing aid sanitizer, which applies ultraviolet light to safely and completely kill harmful pathogens. Hearing aid cleaning kits are also available with all of the tools you’ll require to safely clean the device without causing harm to the electronics.
Always check the batteries – Hearing aid batteries should always be examined and replaced regularly to assure peak hearing aid functionality. Consider using a battery tester each morning to ensure you have sufficient power for the rest of the day, and keep a spare set of batteries on hand.
Before bedtime, when your hearing aids are not being used, shut them off and store them in a cool, dry spot with the battery door open.
Store your hearing aids in a safe and secure place – In regard to storage, you’ll want to bear in mind three things:
- Keep the hearing aids away from moisture. In other words, storing your hearing aids in the bathroom is probably a bad idea.
- Avoid subjecting the hearing aids—and hearing aid batteries—to temperature extremes. You’ll want to store your hearing aids in a cool, dry place.
- Avoid storing your hearing aids out in the open, where they can become damaged.
We highly recommend storing your hearing aids in a container or drying kit within the drawer of a bedroom side table. This will defend the hearing aids from moisture, temperature extremes, and damage from being bumped off the table.
In addition, always remove your hearing aids prior to showering, swimming, or using a hair dryer or hair spray.
Maintain ear hygiene – Even though earwax has several favorable qualities, such as protection and lubrication of the ear canal, it can cause severe damage to your hearing aids. As it gets wedged within the hearing aid hardware, sound can become distorted.
Make sure you’re maintaining proper ear hygiene, and if you have excess earwax, think about booking a consultation with a professional.
Carefully insert your hearing aids – While putting in your hearing aids, lean over a table or soft surface in case the hearing aids fall. Hearing aids come with fragile electronics, so a fall on a hard surface can produce significant damage.
Even with scrupulous cleaning and maintenance, over time the hearing aid will call for more complete cleaning or repair.
To assure that you consistently achieve the best sound possible, we highly recommend having your hearing aids professionally cleaned by a hearing specialist a minimum of twice per year.
Hearing care professionals will provide a deep cleaning, a tune-up, and will sometimes replace parts. Staying current on this regular maintenance will expand the life of your hearing aids and will assure that you achieve the best sound.